Brian Pitman

Brian Pitman

Article by Alan Trout

Brian Eric Pitman had an unfortunate start to his race-riding career. Apprenticed to George Todd and yet to ride a winner, he broke his jaw in a fall at Bath on June 24, 1951, when his mount Garden Fete fell shortly after the start of a three-year-old maiden race. 

He was back in action before the end of the season, but it was not until October 10, 1952 that he finally rode his first winner on Coy Lady, trained by Todd, in the Young Entry Apprentice Handicap at Ascot.

Soon becoming too heavy for the Flat, Brian switched codes ands had his first ride under National Hunt rules at Wincanton on October 28, 1954, when Frolicsome Lover finished unplaced in the Nailsworth Handicap Hurdle. After finishing fourth back at Wincanton the following month, the pair returned to the course for a third start on December 9, this time taking the lead at the third flight and going on to win the Charlton Musgrave Novices’ Hurdle, beating Owen McNally on Spring Heather by six lengths. On a day when two 16-year-old amateur jockeys rode winners at the course, the Daily Herald jokingly referred to Brian as an “old man of 21”. 

After that first success, Brian went on to add three more wins that season, including the first two of his nine victories on Ron’s Nephew, seven of them coming at Newbury, including two renewals of the Hungerford Chase. 

Although he had another eight wins in the 1956/57 season, only two were after he lost his claim when riding his 15th winner on Ron’s Nephew in February. Those final two were both gained on No Road at Buckfastleigh for owner-trainer Toby Cobden, the second of them in the South Devon Selling Handicap Hurdle on June 8, 1957. 

Brian rode Ron’s Nephew in all seven of his starts the following season, and they were placed four times without winning. He had his final ride at Buckfastleigh when the six-year-old Ridgeroad was beaten a neck by Poppy Seed, ridden by the good amateur Peter Slade, at the end of the Dean Prior Selling Handicap Hurdle on Whit Monday, May 26, 1958. 

Brian Pitman’s winners were, in chronological order.

1. Coy Lady, Ascot, October 10, 1952

2. Frolicsome Lover, Wincanton, December 9, 1954

3. Ron’s Nephew, Newbury, January 22, 1955

4. Ron’s Nephew, Taunton, February 5, 1955

5. Frolicsome Lover, Wincanton, March 17, 1955

6. Ron’s Nephew, Newbury, January 18, 1956

7. Ron’s Nephew, Newbury, March 2, 1956

8. Frolicsome Lover, Devon & Exeter, March 31, 1956

9. Calyx, Taunton, April 26, 1956

10. Ron’s Nephew, Newbury, November 21, 1956

11. Basalt Knight, Taunton, December 27, 1956

12. Ron’s Nephew, Newbury, December 28, 1956

13. Ron’s Nephew, Windsor, January 5, 1957

14. Ron’s Nephew, Newbury, January 11, 1957

15. Ron’s Nephew, Newbury, February 13, 1957

16. No Road, Buckfastleigh, April 6, 1957

17. No Road, Buckfastleigh, June 8, 1957